The Three Gunas
Triguṇa / त्रिगुण
Definition
Sattva, rajas and tamas: the three qualities of mind, forming the mental counterpart to the doshas of the body.
Key points
- The three gunas are sattva (clarity), rajas (activity) and tamas (inertia)
- All three are present in everyone; what changes is the proportion
- The doshas measure the body, the gunas measure the mind
What are the gunas?
The three gunas are the qualities of mind: sattva, clarity and balance; rajas, activity and drive; tamas, heaviness and inertia. Every mind holds all three, and what changes from person to person and hour to hour is the proportion.
If the doshas are the measure Ayurveda applies to the body, the gunas are the measure it applies to the mind. The system uses the two together, which is how it avoids treating mental states as a separate department.
The three, in short
Sattva supports clarity and steadiness of attention, and is the quality every practice in the tradition is aimed at increasing. Rajas supports motivation and momentum, and in excess shows up as restlessness, hurry and irritability. Tamas supports rest, sleep and stability, and in excess shows up as heaviness, dullness and apathy.
Not a hierarchy
It is easy to read this as good, mediocre and bad. The tradition does not. Nothing gets started without rajas and nobody sleeps without tamas. They are described as problems when they are excessive, or present at the wrong time: tamas is what should carry you into sleep at night and precisely what you do not want in the middle of the afternoon.
What shifts the balance
Fresh, easily digested food, a regular schedule, moderate exercise, meditation and breathing practice are described as raising sattva. Heavily stimulating food, irregular hours and a constant intake of information push toward rajas and tamas. This is the same territory that daily routine (dinacharya) covers, approached from the side of the mind.
This entry introduces a traditional system of thought and general information. It does not guarantee any specific effect and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. For health concerns, please consult a qualified medical professional.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What are the three gunas?
Sattva, clarity and balance; rajas, activity and drive; tamas, heaviness and inertia. They are the three qualities of mind in Indian philosophy and Ayurveda.
How do the gunas differ from the doshas?
The [doshas](/en/term/dosha/) are the measure applied to the body, the gunas the measure applied to the mind. Ayurveda uses both together rather than treating the mind as separate.
Are rajas and tamas bad?
No. Rajas is what gets anything started and tamas is what makes rest and sleep possible. They are described as problems only in excess, or at the wrong time of day.